Sri Lankan arrested with satellite receivers

Custom officers at the airport were able to nab a Sri Lankan who attempted to smuggle thirty satellite receivers into the country this morning.

First ever braille newspaper by Wijeya

The First ever braille newspaper in Sri Lanka, 'Wijeya Braille' was launched today at the School for Visually Impaired in Ratmalana by Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., the mother company of the Daily Mirror Updated

Yal Devi to reach KKS by 2013

Yal Devi, the popular Northern line express train from Fort to Jaffna will resume its run after 20 years between the two main cities in the end of 2013 once the track between Pallai and KKS was restored by the Indians in two years, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said today.

Sarath Fonseka sentenced to three years

Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was sentenced by the Colombo High Court to three years in jail and imposed a fine of five thousand rupees or six months in jail for default  Updated

Kambli suspects 1996 World Cup semi final was fixed

Fifteen years after a crying Vinod Kambli walked off the Eden Gardens when the World Cup semifinal against Sri Lanka was stopped due to crowd violence with India on the verge of defeat, the batsman has hinted the game could’ve been fixed.

White Flag case judgement today

The Colombo High Court will deliver its much awaited judgement today on the white flag case involving former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka

TNA insists on extensive devolution of powers

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought devolution of executive, legislative and judicial power as a means of resolving the north and east question, a TNA parliamentarian said yesterday

Facebook affair ends in blackmail

A lady teacher in a complaint to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) said she was blackmailed into sex by a person who befriended her on Facebook, by threatening to post her nude photos on it

Death threats to Yohindra Premachandra

Sumana Premachandra the wife of the slain former parliamentarian and presidential advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra lodged a complaint with the Cinnamon Garden police regarding anonymous calls she has being receiving threatening her son, Yohindra with death

Gold jewellery seized from woman

Customs officials today recovered Rs 4.25 lakh "undeclared" gold jewellery from a woman who arrived Chennai from Colombo. The four 'crude bangles,' weighing 145 gm, were seized since she did not declare them, Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Customs Commissioner, Chennai Airport, said in a release.

Road accidents on the rise-police

Six people die daily in Sri Lanka from road accidents with a total of 1,750 people having lost their lives from 1,527 fatal road accidents reported up to September this year, the police said

Sri Lanka has set an example-Keheliya

Sri Lanka has set an example in reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation by re-settling over 10,000 IDPs or 93% of those who crossed over to the armed forces controlled side at the final stage of the humanitarian operation, Cabinet spokesman  Keheliya Rambukwella said today

CCTV cameras along the Southern Expressway

Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed along the Southern Expressway to prevent accidents, to monitor the selling of tickets and to control speed violations

Undergrads released on bail

The Colombo Magistrate today released on personal bail six undergraduates of the Kelaniya University Science Faculty who were alleged to have been involved in a clash that took place between two factions of students of the science faculty on Poya day.

Acquired assets to be privatized again

The 37 underperforming or underutilizing ventures acquired by the government under ‘The revival of underperforming and underutilizing government assets’ Bill are up for re –lease to the previous owners or any other investor who comes up with a better corporate plan, the government said today.

British PM expresses concern over the Bill

British Prime Minister David Cameron and several other Commonwealth leaders had expressed concern over the controversial Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Unutilized Assets Bill that was passed in Parliament recently.

Traffic diverted from Ibbanwala to Town Hall

The traffic flow from the Ibbanwala junction towards Town Hall has been diverted through  Hyde Park corner up to the traffic lights in front of the ‘Sathutu Uyana,’ the police said.

Ex-policeman arrested for fraud

A former police officer was arrested for allegedly taking more then Rs.3 million from several individuals by forging documents to get their children admitted to popular schools in Kandy and Negombo.

Roof of a two-storyed building collapses in Town Hall

The roof of an old two-storyed building opposite the Salaka building in Town Hall, has collapsed to the main road, the fire brigade said today. No casualties have been reported so far, however there is a heavy traffic buildup from Ibbanwala Junction to Town Hall. Traffic has been rerouted and the police are clearing up the debris.

“Continued attacks have created insecurity among fishermen”: Jayalalitha

The Centre should assert itself with the Sri Lankan Government to control the “rogue elements in the Sri Lankan Navy” who continue to indulge in acts of physical assault on innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu, said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

State must also act to protect fishermen: Coast Guard

Complaints of Tamil fishermen being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy could be brought down only if the State government brings in stricter regulations preventing the fishermen from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), according to V.S.R. Murthy, Deputy Director General (Operations and Coastal Security), Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

Govt. should have invited Darusman panel: Prof. Gunaratne

Terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratne yesterday said that the government should have invited the Darusman panel to visit the country, without which they had  produced a report based on information and propaganda gathered from the front organizations of the LTTE.

Maga Neguma owes Rs.1.2 billion to contractors

Maga Neguma, the state owned enterprise involved in infrastructure development, has defaulted a massive Rs.1.2 billion to some contractors who carried out road construction work in certain areas of the southern province, the parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed

Postal Department crisis deepens

The Postal Department crisis is deepening amid the Post Master General (PMG) categorically denying allegations of corruption made against him by employees and while postal service trade unions continue their strike urging the government to remove him his post

Lankan SAARC monument in Maldives vandalised

The SAARC monument designed and gifted to the Maldives by the Sri Lankan government, has been doused with crude oil. The lion statue, representing the national symbol of Sri Lanka, was vandalised last night

Peons of president’s office further remanded

Two peons attached to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s private secretary’s office who were allegedly involved in pilfering stationery and computer toners from the stores of Temple Trees were further remanded till November 30 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate today

Child exploitation on the rise-Police

The police department has detected an increase in child abuse cases ranging from rape to sexual harassment with 850 such cases being reported this year

Road Accident Victims Unit to be set up

The health ministry requests the public to maintain one minute silence at 10.00am next Sunday to remember those who have died following road accidents, a senior official said today.

Petrol price hike will fuel inflation:CB

October’s fuel price hike “will cause a marginal upward movement in prices,” the Sri Lankan Central Bank said here on Wednesday. However, it expected improvements in domestic supply conditions

SL Maid acquitted of theft

A Lankan housemaid, who was accused of theft by her Bahraini sponsor, was yesterday acquitted by the High Criminal Court. The 40-year-old had run away and gone to the police station, complaining that her sponsor always treated her badly.